Well pump



A. G. GAGE May 9, 1933.

WELL PUMP 2 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed July 17, 1929 l. May 9, A1933 A. G. GAGE 1,907,949

WELL PUMP Original Filed July 17, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Maf e, 1933 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR G. GAGE, F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO ALTA VISTA HYDRAULIC COMPANY, LTD., OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A COR- PORATION OF CALHORNIA WELL PUMP Application led July 17, 1929, Serial No. 378,923. Renewed October 7,1932.

Well pump, certain aspects of the invention being directed to variations in structure and operation over the pump described in that application. The type of pump dealt with in Ser. No. 378,921, may be described generally as comprising a pumping piston actuated by high pressure fluid alternately applied to the ends of the piston and exhausted directly into the pumping column, and a single Huid pressure actuated valve for regi ulating the delivery of the actuating and pumped fluid to and from the piston chamber. The valve is releasably locked in adjusted position by means of a locking device of the nature disclosed in the referred application Ser. No. 302,737, the locking device being actuated by the piston to release the valve and to permit its movement by differential iluidV pressures. During each stroke of the piston, the actuating fiuid delivered into the piston chamber to actuate the piston during its previous stroke, is exhausted into the pumping column.

The general operation of the present pump dilfers essentially from that described in Ser. No. 378,921 in that during one stroke of thepiston the actuating duid delivered to the piston chamber during the previous stroke of the piston, instead of being enhausted into the pumping column, is delivered to the pump displacement chamber into which the Well liquid is taken. This is of particular advantage in that should well liquid contain a large amount of sand which ordinarily would cause stallingof the pump, the liquid from the piston chamber serves to dilute the Well liquid and so reduce its proportional vsand content to the extent that it may readily be handled Without causing the pump to become sanded.

The invention is articularly directed to an improved forni oiP ating device by means of which a reciprocating pump valve may be locked in adjusted position at the limits of its reciprocating movement during the intermediate portions of the piston strokes, said device serving to release the valve at the ends of the piston strokes and to move the valve throughout its length of travel independent of the movement of the piston. In Ser. No. 302,737 I have shown a form of lockinor device Whereby the valve may be releasablgy locked in adjusted position, the piston serving both to release the lock and to move the valve throughout its travel after the point of release. Although the present valve locking and actuating device has certain characteristics similar to that described in the referred a plication on valve actuating device, and preierably embodies that form of locking device, the present type comprises means not only for releasably locking the valve in adjusted osition but also for actuating the valve in ependently of the movement of the piston. And although this improved device is particularly adapted for use in single valve pumps, in which connection the invention is described herein, to provide a positive means for actuating the valve to preclude any possibility of the pump becoming stalled on dead' center, it will be understood that the present valve locking and actuating device is adaptable for use in other forms of pumps and which may embody one or more valves. l have shown herein a single valve pump in which the valve may be capable of being actuated by differential fluid pressures but it may be mentioned that l have done so only for purposes of lillustration and 'that movement ofthe valve may not necessarily be aided by Huid pressure, and in fact the valve actuating device may be equall effective in eases Where movement o valve is resisted rather than aided.

The above and additionalfeatures of the invention will be understood most readily and clearly from the following detailed devalve locking and aetuf" the e the valve actuating and locking device indi- .annularly spaced at 27 from the inside of scription of a preferred embodiment of the on its invention, reference being had throu the description to the accompanying in s, in which:

ig. 1 is a sectional view of the pump, the

return stroke the high hout ating Huid is directed against t e u per face raw- 29 of the piston by way of space 2g.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, bores 32 vand 33 extend longitudinally valve head and a portion of the valve actuthroughthe valve head 11 and open at their ating device being shown in elevation; lower ends into the displacement chamber Fig. 2 is an enlarged medial section'D above the piston, a check valve 34d being through the valve head, the valve and the provided at'the upper end of bore 32, and locking device being'in their lower ositions the upper end, 33a 0f bore 33 being comparaof adjustment, and the IOCatOIl 0 POIt 45 tively restricted as indicated. Within bore being varied from its'true osition as shown 33 is e vertically reciprocable valve 34 havin Fig. 5, for purposes of lllustration; vfing a plurality of piston sections 34a, 341) Fig. 3 is generally similar to Fig. 2, and and 340. 'The valve stem or rod 35 extends illustrates the valve and locking device in at its upper end 35a Withinl the reduced bore their upper positions; 33a, the lower 'end of the valve stem being Fig. 4 is a detailed and enlarged view of connectedwith the valve actuating rod 36 by wayv of the locking device generally indicated at 37. As will later be explained, the valve and the locking device 37 are adapted to be actuated intermittently by the piston assembly through rod 36. An exhaust fluid passage 38 extends upward within the valve of elle PlllnP ls lolned at 10a to the lOWeI head from the lower end thereof, and serves @11d 0f the tublng 10a the latter being adapt* to establish communication between the ed to be lowered within the well casing (not pump displacement Chamber D and the Valve sllovvn) and the PlllnP dllllng operation be' bore 33 at a predetermined point therein, ing submerged beneath the standing level of by Way of port 4() The valve bore likeelle Well llqllld ln elle usual manner- Tlle wise communicates with the exhaust passage PlllnP oonlllrlses an upper valve llead block 32 through port 41. The enlarged portion 11, and the loWel Plston and oyllndef asseln'f 33 of the valve bore is communicable with bly section generally indicated at 12. The latter section embodies an outer pipe 13 sethe horizont-,a1 port 43 immediately below the ollled to elle valve llead all 147 and a Plston reduced valve bore 33a. Intercommunicacylinder 15 extending concentrically within tion between the valve bore and the annuthe olltel" PlPe and annnlally spaced there lar space 27 between piston cylinder 15 and from al? lo elle Plsllon oyllndel' belng sllnl the barrel 25, is established by way of ports lally nlollnted on elle valve head al' 17- 44 at-the upper end of space 27, the annular oaP 18 ls Plovlded for the loWel` ends of space 16 between the pump cylinder and the PlPe 13 and the Plston ovllndel', llle an outer pipe 13 likewise communicating with nlllal' sPaoe lo oolnnlllnloalllng vvltll elle the Valve bore through ports 45. The high Chamber C, Wltllln sald ovllndefa by Wav of pressure piston actuating fluid is delivered ports 19. AWithin .cylinder 15 is a vertically to the Well from a pump (not shown) at the l'eolPl'ooalllng Piston 20 llavlng a tubular eX ground level by way of a pipe or conduit 46 tenslon 21 dellendlng therefrom, lille latter Within the pipe 10, the high pressure fluid having a slldlng llt Wltllln a lool'e 22 ln lille conduit opens into passage 48 in the valve bottom closure 18, and carrying at its lower head, the actuating Quid being delivered @11d the usual fOOl3 Valve 23- lfrom said passage to the valve bore through A pipesleeve 24 is carried on the upper port 49. end of piston 20, the pipehaving a sliding As indicated in cated at A in Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Flg. 2;

and

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 2. Referring to the drawings, the upper end Fig. 2,when the valve the well at the exterior of the pump, through ressure actulll lit within a barrel 25 which is mounted at 34 is in its lowerposition, high pressure 26 on the lower end of the valve headv and fluid is discharged into theouter annular 'space 16 by way of the valve bore ybetween the piston cylinder. By virtue of the depistons 34a and 34o, and through lports 45. scribed piston construction andthe concen- It may also be noted at this point that in tric and spaced arrangement of the outer the upper position'of the valve, liquid from pipe 13, piston cylinder and barrel 25, prothe pump chamber C at pumping column vision is made for diHerential pressure area pressure, that is the static pressure due to between the'upper and lower faces 29 and the column of pumped liquid in pipe 10, 30 respectively, of the piston. It may be is discharged from space 27 into the exhaust mentioned at this point that to :move the Huid passage 32 and thence into pipe 10, piston on its upward or pumping stroke, byway of ports 44 and 41,' and the valve high pressure iluid is introduced to `chamber bore between pistons 347) and 340. When C below the piston by way of space 16 and the valve is in its upper position shown in ports.19, and to move the piston downward Fig. 3, the'high pressure fluid is conducted lli titi

` and a second to space 27 by way of the valve bore between istons 3411, 34e, `and ports 44, exhaust uid from space 16 being dischar ed into 'passage 38 and thence into the placement chamber D, through ports 45, 40 and the valve bore between pistons 34a and 3d J.

As previously mentioned, the valve is loclred in its upper and lower ositions of adjustment b means ci the loc ing device generally in icated at 37, this device compricing the subject matter of the application on valve actuating device identihed hereinabove. Referring to lllig. d, the locking device embodies a pair oi' etch arms 50 pivotally mounted at 5l on the lower end oi the valve head il and having toe porftions a at its upper ends, the arms being urged to swin readily inwardly in the arial plane o the valve stein '35 by means oi coil springs 52 placed in recesses 53 in the valve head and bearing against the toe portions 50a.. 'lhe arms are each provided with oppositely inclined cam engaging laces 55 and 55a, notches 5h being formed midway between the inclined 'laces as shown. it sleeve 57 having integral npper and lower detent ilanges 5d and 58a: is mounted on the lower end el the valve stem. @lidably mounted on sleeve 57 is an annular spreader cam 60 having the upper and lower ltapered cam. iaces 60e and bild respectively,

a cylindrical bloclr t2 within the sleeve bore being dried to the cam d0 bs means oi a pin d3 entendimr through the blbclr and through longitudine slots 59 in the sleeve. lll spring is placed on the sleeve coniinedbetween the spreader cam and the lower dange 58a, s ring 56 is conhned between the end ol the sleeve bore and the upper end ot bloclr d2, the combined edect of these springs being to counterbalance one another when the device is in the position shown in Fig. ll.

ijrod 36, depending trom the lower end oi bloclr 62, carries a pair oi vertically spaced and A integral piston engagin elements shown typically in the form o cups 68 and t9, the distance between opposed open ends oi these cups being less than the length ot stroke ci piston 20 as will late] be understood. An adjustable abutment or spider 70, is carried within the interior of pipe sleeve 24 and is adapted to move vertically with the sleeve and to engagethe open .ends of cups t8 and 69 to actuate the valve locking device. Coil springs 71 and 72 are placed around rod 36 above and below the spider 70, the springs preferably being provided with suitable means, for in- Istance caps 73 for centering them relative to rod 36. It may be noted that each of the springs is capable of being compressed and contained within its respective cu these springsv necessarily being weaker t an the being 1n the Eeviously described springs 56 and 65 emdied in the locking device, the reason for which will appear resently.

Upon downwar movement of the piston 20, thevalve and the locking device positions indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, the splder engages the upptr end of the lower spring 7h, compressing the spring within cup 9 as indicated in lllig. 4. Spring 72 being substantially wealrer than the lower sprin 35 in the loching device, no appreciable ownward movement oirod 36, or at least movement to the point ot causing cam 60 to come into spreading enagement with the arms, occurs during the ownward movement of the piston until the spider is brought into engagement with the lower cup b9. At this point however the spider serves, by virtue ci its engagement with the cup, to move the cam 60 downward into engagement with arms lib, whereby the latter are spread apart sudciently to release the lower datent *flange 53a trom notches 56. .ht the point oi release oi dange 58d, the lower spring 7d tends to resume its normal expanded position, and in so doing caused the actuating rod 3h, together with the valve 3d and the attached sleeve 5l" to move downward to the position indicated in llig. d, and to the point at which iurther down ward movement is arrested due to the up er detent delige he becoming held wit iin notches 56. lt may be considered that the valve locking and actuating device comprises a pair oi relatively movable members, one being the rod 35 and sleeve 35, the other comprising a cam 60, bloclr 32 and rod 36, and that 'the release oi' the valve loclring means is etlected upon relative movement oi these members.

Upon upward movement oi the piston 'from the position shown in Fig. l a reverse procedure occurs. rl`he upper spring @l is raised by the spider and compressedwithin cup 68 until the spider is brought into engagcment with the lowerend of the cup, whereupon cam t0 is brought into engagement with the lower inclined iaces 55a oi the arms, causing them to spread outward to release the upper dan e 58 and. to permit spring 71, upon expan Iing, to throw the.

rod '36 together with the valve and sleeve 57 upward to their raised positions in llig.. 4, and at which point Hangs 58a is again retained withinthe arm notches. L it will be noted that after the point oi releasing the locking device, and therefore the valve, by the described action oi the piston, no iurther direct force is necessarily imparted by the piston to the valve to effect the movement of the latter during either its upward or downward travel between the limits per mitted by the locking device, thisV feature distinguishing over the action oi the device described in the referred copend'ing app1il ltd cation on valve actuating devices in that the movement of the valve after the point of release is independent of the movement of the piston.

It will be understood that the valve is actuated in this manner irrespective of the hereinafter described pressure differential applied to the ends of the valve which may be effective in causing or at least facilitating its movement. Thus although the present pump is shown to embody a valve capable of movement by virtue, of pressure differentials, the actuating device is not limited to use in combination with the particular form of valve shown and in fact the actuating device may be equally effective in case the movement of the valve is resisted instead of aided as in the present instance. From the foregoing it will be seen that the comparative strengths of the springs embodied in the entire actuating device are such that springs 56 and 57 are capable of supporting the parts depending from the cylindrical block 62 without yielding sufficiently to cause cam to actuate the arms, and without yielding to that extent during the time springs 7l and 72 are being compressed within the caps. r

Tn describing the operation of the pump it may be assumed first that the piston is starting on its upward travel from the position of Fig. 1, the corresponding position of the valve being shown in Fig. 2. High pressure fluid delivered to passage 38 through the conduit 46 is delivered to the piston chamber C beneath the piston by way of port 49, the valve bore between pistons 34a, 345, and ports 45, into the annular space 16, and thence through ports19 in the bottom of the pump cylinder. As the piston is forced upward by the high pressure fluid, well liquid contained within the -displace,-

ment chamber l), within pipes 24, 21 and f. barrel 25, is forced upward through passage 32 in the valve head into the well pipe 10, through which the oil is conducted to the ground surface. The actuating. fluid witbin chamber C above the piston, delivered thereto during the previous down strokerof the piston, is discharged. upward through theannular space v27 into the discharge passage 32 by way of ports '44 and 41 and the valve bore between pistons 34?) and 340.

It will be noted that during the up stroke o f the piston, the pressure on the lower end of the valve 34 and on the upper 'end of the `valve stem within the reduced bore 33a, is

that pressure corresponding to the static head of oil in the pumping column` or in other words the column of liquid within pipe l0. The upper annular face ofthe valve piston 34a however is exposed to comparatively low well pressure due to the communication of bore 33 at its upper end with the well bv Way of` port 43. Therefore a pressure differential on the upper and lower ends of the valve exists in proportion to the difference in areas between that of the lower end of the valve or the cross section area of the valve bore, and that of the reduced bore 33, the result being that by virtue of this differential pressure, the movement of the valve upwardly from the position of Fig. 2 to that of Fig. 3, when released by the locking device, may be aided, although it will be understood that such aid may be desirab'le, but not essential, in the movement of the valve by the previously described actuating device.

' Upon movement of the valve to its upper.

position shown in Fig. 3, the application of thel actuating fluid to the upper and lower ends of the pump piston 20 is reversed. Thus in this position, the high pressure fluid is delivered to the chamber C above the piston to force the latter down, by way of the Valve bore between pistons 34o and 340, ports 44 and the annular space 27, the liquid in charnber C beneath the piston being discharged into the exhaust passage 38 and into the displacement chamber D by way of the annular space 16, ports 45 and 40, and the valve bore between pistons 34a and 346. And as in the previous instance, when the piston approaches the lower limit of its stroke and they locking device 37 is actuated through rod 36 to release the valve, and the latter again is returned to its lower position. During the down stroke of the piston it will be noted that the foot valve 23 is unseated to permit the well liquid to rise within pipes 21 and 24, the pressure on the lower end of/the valve therefore being that within the well, and

.which may be considered substantially at- 'mospheric 'Thus during the downward movement of the piston, the pressure differential onthe valve is that corresponding to column pressure on the upper end of the valve stem within bore 33a, and well pressure on the lower end of the valve, and again this differential may serve to aid the actuating device in returning the valve to its lower position when released by the locking device.

By virtue of the actuating fluid being discharged from the piston chamber to the displacement chamber D during the down stroke of the piston, a vvolume of clean oil is mixed with the well liquid in the displacement chamber. Thus should the well liquid normally contain such a high percentage of sandv as would tend to vcause the pump to stall by becoming sanded, the clean oil from the piston chamber serves todilute the Well liquid and to reduce its proportional sand content to such an extent that the liquid mixture may readily be handled without causing the pump `to become vstalled on account of the sand. I

It will be understood the drawings and devso .lill

scription` are to be considered merely as illustrative of and not restrictive on the broader claims appended hereto, for various changes in design, structure and arrangement may be made without de arting from the spirit and scope of said c aims. l

I claim: O

l. A fluid pressure actuated well pump embodying a piston chamber and a piston in said chamber, an actuatin fluid passage communicating with said c amber, the aotuating fluid being adapted to move the piston through one of its strokes, a spring actuated valve for controlling the delivery ot said actuating fluid to the piston, said valve lhaving tvvo operative positions oil adjustnient, means for locking said valve in one position, and means adapted to be actuated by the piston for releasing the valve from said loc ing means and for moving the valve to its other position independently oli the movement of the piston.

2. A duid pressure actuated vvell pump embodying, a valve head, a piston cylinder carrie on the `lovver end oli said valve head and a piston in said cylinder, means :torming a displacement chamber from which vvell liquid is adapted to be pumped by the piston through a passage in the valve head, said displacement chamber being separate from the piston chamber but communicable there- With, an actuating iuid conduit communicable through a assage in the valve head with said piston cy inder, the high pressure duid trom said conduit being adapted to move the piston through one of its strokes, and valvemeans in said valve head for regulating the delivery of actuating iuid to the piston cylinder and the discharge oi exhaust iduid from the piston cylinder to the displacement chamber, the actuating fluid delivered to the pistonv cylinder to move the piston through one of its strokes being discharged into the displacement chamber during the reverse stroke ot the piston. y

3. A fluid pressure actuated vvell pump embodyin a piston chamber and a piston in said c amber, a displacement chamber from which Well liquid is adapted to be pumped by the piston, said displacement chamber being communicable `vvith the piston chamber, high pressure and exhaust fluid passages communicable with said piston chamber, and valve means for regulating the Huid flow through said passages whereby the ends of the piston each are alternately exposed to the actuating duid pressure, the actuating fluid-delivered to the piston chamber to move the piston through one of its strokes being discharged into the displacement chamber during the reverse strokereciprocating valve for controlling the operation of said iston; and a valve locking and actuating dlivice embodying means for locking said valve in position at one end of its travel, and iston actuated means for releasing said va ve and for thereafter moving it independent ot the movement of the piston, substantially throughout its length of travel.

5. In a Well ump of the character described, la cylin er and a fluid rassure operated pumping piston in said cylinder,

a reciprocating valve for controlling the operation ot said piston,I and a valve looking and actuating device embodying means lor locking said valve in position at one end ot its travel, and means adapted to be actuated by engagement withy the iston for releasin said valve and tor -tereai'ter moving it inde endent of the movement ot the piston, su stantially throughout its length ot travel.

t. ln a vvell ump ot the character described, a cylinr and a tluid pressure operated pumping piston in said cylinder, a reciprocating valve i'or controlling the operation el said iston; and a valve locking and actuating dvice embodying means lor locking said valve in position at the ends oi2 its reciprocating movement, and means adapted to be actuated by the piston lor releasing said valve and tor reversing its positions, said valve being moved substantially throughout its length oi travel independent oli the movement ot the iston.

l. lin a vvell 'ump o" the character described, a cyliner and a iluid pressure operated pumping piston in said cylinder, a reciprocating valve lor controlling the operation or said piston; and a valve loclrinvn and actuating device embodying a pair o" interconnected and relatively movable members, one joined to said valve and the other adapted to be actuated under control ci the piston, yielding means resisting relative 'movement of the members, means tor loclring theVv hrst mentioned member against movement `vvith the other member, said locking means being releasable upon relative movement ot the members, and means actuated by the piston and acting to nipve the valve independent ot the piston movement.

8. In a Well pump of the character described, a cylinder and a lluid pressure operated pumping piston in said cylinder, a reciprocating valve lor controlling the operation of said piston; and a valve locking and actuating device embodying means for locking said valve in adjusted position at one limit of its travel, and a spring actuated member adapted to be intermittently actuated by the piston to release said locking means, and adapted upon release of the locking means, to move the valve throughout its length ci travel.

9. In a well pumpof the character delid dll

llti

lllll llld llt"

scribed, a cylinder and a iuid pressure operated pumping piston in sa'id cylinder, a reci rocating valve for controlling the operation of said piston; and a valve locking and actuating device embodying means Afor locking said valve in adjusted position at one limit of its travel, and a spring actuated member interconnected with said valve and movable relative thereto, said member being adapted to be intermittentl actuated by the piston to release said loc ing means, and adapted upon release of the locking means to move the valve througdlout its length of travel,

10. In a well pump of the character described, a cylinder and a iuid pressure operated pumping piston in said cylinder, a reciprocating valve for controlling the operation of said piston; and a valve locking and actuating device embodying means for locking said valve in adjusted position at one limit of its travel, a piston actuated valve and lock actuating member, and yielding means resisting relative movement between said member' and the piston, said member being adapted to actuate the locking device to release said valve and to move the valve throughout its length of travel.

11. In a well pump of the character described, a cylinder and a Huid pressure operated pumping piston in said cylinder, a reciprocating valve for controlling the operation of said piston; and a valve locking -and actuating device embodying means for locking said valve in adjusted position at the limits of its travel, a normally stationary valve and lock actuating member adapted to be actuated by the piston, and yielding means between said member and the piston and resisting their relative reciprocating movement, said member being adapted to actuate the locking device to release lsaid valve, and to actuate the valve throughout its reciprocating movements.

12. In a well pump of the character described, a cylinder and a fiuid pressure operatedv pumping piston in said cylinder, a reciprocating valve for controlling the operation of said piston; and a valve locking and actuating device embodying means for locking said valve in adjusted position at one limit of its travel, a valve and lock actuating member adapted to be moved by the piston, and a spring between said member and the piston and resisting their relative movement, said member being actuated by the piston ,to compress said spring and to release thelocking means, and being actuated thereafter by the spring to move -said valve throughout its travel.

13. In a well pump of the character described, a cylinder and a fluid pressure operated pumping piston' in said cylinder, a reclprocating valve for controlling the operation of said piston; and a valve locking mov/,949 n and actuating device embodying means for locking said valve in adjusted positions at the limits of its reciprocating movement, a spring actuated member interconnected wlth said valve and movable relative thereto, said member being adapted to be intermittently engaged b the iston to release said locking means, an yielding means resisting relative movement between said member and the piston, said valve being adapted to be moved throughout its length of travel by said member when released from the locking means.

14. In a well pump, a valve head and a fluid pressure operated pumping piston below the head, a vertically reciprocating valve in said head for controlling the operation of said piston, a pair of oppositely disposedand downwardly extending arms mounted at their upper ends on said valve head and adapted to yieldingly resist lateral displacement, a pair of vertically alined and relatively longitudinally movable members, the upper member being connected with said valve and normally locked against vertical movement between said arms, the lower member being adapted to be intermittently engaged by the piston to spread said arms and to release the first mentioned member, and yielding means resisting relative movement between the last mentioned member and the piston.

15. In a well pump` a valve head and a fluid pressure operated pumping piston below the head, a vertically reciprocating valve in said head for controlling the operation of said piston, a pair of oppositely disposed and .downwardly extending arms mounted at their upper ends on said valve head and adapted to yieldingly resist lateral displacement, a pair of vertically alined and relatively longitudinally movable members, the upper member being connected with said valve and normally locked against vertical movement between said arms, an abutment on said piston and vertically movable therewith, a pair of spaced engaging elements on the lower member above and below said abutment, and a spring between each of said elements and the abutment, the lower member being adapted to be actuated by the abutment to spread said arms to release the upper member and to compress said springs, and both members and the valve then being actuated upon expansion of the compressed springs. l

16. In a well pump, a valve head and a Huid pressure operated pumping piston below the head, a vertically reciprocating valve'in said head for controlling the operation of said piston, and a valve locking and actuating device embodying means for 'locking said valve in adjusted position at the limit of its travel, a vertically extending .valve and lock actuating rod operatively connected with said valve and locking means,

an abutment on said piston and vertically movable therewith, a pair of spaced engaging elements on the rod above and below said abutment, and a spring between each of said elements and the abutment, said rod being adapted to be actuated by the abutment to release said locking means and to compress one of said springs, the sprlng then actuating said rod to operate the valve.

17. In a pump, a hollow plunger carrying an operatinv' piston and a pumping piston, means con ning a hydraulic column in communication with the upper side-of the operating piston, means including a tube surrounding ythe plunger and the said means, confining a hydraulic column and .conveying pressure therefrom to the lower side of the operating piston, means confining a third 4hydraulic column, means automatically operated by the movements of the plunger to superimpose the third column on the other two columns alternately, and a pump barrel containing the pumping piston.

18. In a pump, a well casing and a pump mechanism suspended from the casing and insertable through the casing and Withdrawable therefrom, the pump mechanism comprising the following, a head suspended from the casing, a well tubing coaxially connected to and pendent from the head, concentric pump barrels Within the tubing, a .pump plunger having an operating piston and a pumping piston, the operating piston Working in the larger barrel, means including the tubing and the larger barrel for conlining two hydraulic columns one communieating pressure to,V the lower side of the operating piston and the other to the upper side thereof, means confining a third hydraulic column, and a valve automatically operated to superimpose the third column upon the other two columns alternately, the plmping piston working in the smaller barre In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 10th day of June 1929.

ARTHUR G. GAGE. 

